Chapter 9 #2
His grip tightened briefly on her upper arm as he understood what she was saying, then softened as he exhaled. “You mean, our lads have set up an elaborate treasure hunt for us? We’re supposed to follow the clues until we find them?”
Her smile was rueful as she nodded. “Does that no’ sound like something they would do? I am sorry they put ye through such trouble.”
He suspected she meant, I am sorry you had to come and find me, but he wasn’t certain if that was because she didn’t want anything to do with him anymore, or if…
God help him, going around in circles like this was going to give him a headache!
“Excuse me, milady?” The timid little maid spoke up, and when Cash and Athena turned, she shrank back. Swallowing, she asked, “Your—your son? Is he a young, tow-headed lad, perhaps four or five years old?”
As they both nodded in excitement, the maid glanced between them.
“I’ve seen him with Lord Matthew several times playing up here.
I—I thought he was a village lad, or belonged to one of the servants.
” Of course, someone as young and as new as this girl wouldn’t know all the other servants’ business as well as the housekeeper might.
“When they see me, they duck out of sight, but I didn’t think they were doing any harm—”
Since she was becoming emotional, Cash patted the air in an attempt to calm her. “It will be fine. I’m glad the pair of them have had time to play.”
Athena huffed, which might’ve been a laugh.
“And I am pleased to ken where that naughty lad has been running off to! Do ye ken he has been allowing me to think he is with his nurse, while his nurse thinks he is with me? We had nae idea how often it has happened, but the lad has been coming here? All the way to Dumpkins?”
He took her hand once more. “Matthew likely helped him.”
“Och, aye.” She rolled her eyes. “This also explains the fort Callan was going on about weeks ago. How long have they been planning this?”
The little maid was clearly lost. “Planning what, milady?”
Despite not having addressed the last question to her, Athena smiled at the girl. “What is yer name?”
“Millie, milady,” the maid offered hesitantly.
“Well, Millie, it appears our lads have arranged a bit of a game for His Grace and myself.”
As the girl’s confused gaze swept between them, Cash nodded. “Sort of a treasure hunt.” At least, he hoped that’s all this was; a game set up by Matthew and Callan to make their parents look for them. “And I’ll tan that boy’s backside when I—”
Athena clucked in exasperation, interrupting him. When he glanced at her, she smiled. “I dinnae think for one moment ye would lay a hand on that lad in anger, Cash.”
He grinned in return. “No harm in putting the fear of God into him though?”
She rolled her eyes and turned her attention once more to the maid who was staring, wide-eyed, at their banter. She’d likely never heard anyone refer to the Duke of Cashard as “Cash.”
Hell, she’s likely never seen you smile either, you idiot.
“Can you tell us where you found this pillow, Millie?” Before the maid could answer, Cash added, “And have Mrs. McLaughlin call off the hunt.” He squeezed Athena’s hand without looking at her. “This is something for Lady Athena and myself, I suspect.”
At the mention of Athena’s title, Millie’s eyes widened further, but she nodded and bobbed a curtsey at the same time. “At—at the end of the hall, Your Grace. I found it just lying in the middle of the rug.”
When Cash nodded firmly, Millie’s gaze dropped to their joined hands, and a faint smile tugged at her lips. He pulled Athena past the little maid; certain the story of their lofty guest’s madness would be all over the servants’ dining hall by that evening.
Madness? Is that what love was?
Possibly, but he was surprised to discover he didn’t mind.
Behind them, the hall quieted as Millie ushered everyone downstairs, and Cash was certain he could now hear his own heartbeat.
Athena’s fingers were entwined with his, in a way which somehow felt as intimate as what they’d shared at The Sword and Sheath last week.
He glanced at her, and wasn’t quite surprised to find her grinning.
Together, they pushed open doors and peeked in, trying not to disturb occupants if they were present. Most were small bedrooms belonging to the maids or footmen; some had one bed, some two, but each was cozy and comfortable.
But their sons weren’t there.
Athena had resorted to calling out Callan’s name occasionally, but Cash didn’t join her. If Matthew had wanted to show himself, he would’ve.
Her breath caught. “That one.”
He wasn’t sure what she was talking about until he followed her gaze to a door to what looked like another small bedroom. Unlike the rest of the rooms, this door was closed—mostly. There was a crack between the frame and the edge of the door, as if it had been closed in a hurry.
Or someone had done it on purpose.
He reached for the handle and pulled open the door to what he assumed was a closet.
He was wrong.
”Oh my…” breathed Athena as she slipped around him and stooped to enter what Cash could only call The Fort. It was remarkable.
“Look at all these pillows, Cash!” Athena had to remain stooped in the center of the space—it really wasn’t too much bigger than a closet, and Cash suspected that’s what it had been before their sons had taken it over.
“I have wondered what in the world a set of lads would do with all the pillows and blankets Callan was stealing.”
Cash couldn’t stop his chuckle as he leaned into the space, his neck craning around to peer at all the improvements.
The floor, indeed, was strewn with pillows of all shapes and sizes, including more than a few he recognized from various parlors here at Dumpkins.
Had Matthew been filching pillows as well?
The original shelves had been removed from one wall to make more space—his son had found a set of tools somewhere, and Cash was surprised to realize how proud he was—but on the other side of The Fort, the shelves contained an eclectic collection of books.
Everything from nursery stories to—he peered closer—Markham’s illustrated A History of Wheat, Volume Three.
Hmm. Perhaps stolen by a lad who can’t read?
And aye, there was a stack of priceless ancient manuscripts, some of the titles clear. All of them Oliphant.
His gaze skimmed over the books, rocks, and other assorted treasures the lads had stored on the shelves.
There was a fishing hook—in honor of the time they’d spent fishing at the river?
—and a perfectly round skipping stone. Propped against one shelf was a small portrait of a younger Athena, and a larger painting he didn’t recognize.
Had Callan stolen a portrait from Dumpkins Manor to decorate their hideaway?
His breath caught when he saw the collection of wooden toys. Those soldiers reminded Cash of Matthew’s favorites when he’d been a younger lad. Had his son brought them from the nursery for Callan to play with?
He closed his eyes on an exhale, his hands braced against his knees. Dear God, son. All you wanted was a little brother, wasn’t it?
“Cash?” Amusement in Athena’s voice drew his gaze back to her. “Look at this.”
The space was cramped, but when she moved to one side, he saw what had been hidden behind her skirts. “Is that…a trifle?”
“Aye,” she drawled, her hazel eyes sparkling with amusement. “Filched this morning from Newfincy Castle, if I dinnae miss my guess.”
A trifle? Callan had stolen the messiest kind of dessert he could pick and had carried it to Dumpkins?
“Why?” he asked, shuffling further into the small space.
“Because, I suspect, it is my favorite.”
It was the note of laughter in her voice which snapped his gaze back to hers, and suddenly, he was remembering his plan to ask her to become his mistress.
He’d planned to seduce her with strawberries and crème and enough sweets to make her say aye.
But the thought of her licking her spoon clean after enjoying the trifle…
? Well, it was an entirely inappropriate time for a cockstand, but that didn’t seem to matter one whit to his body.
Blast.
And then her lips curled upward, as if she knew what he was thinking, and he took a step toward her. “Athena—”
That was as far as he got before a weight barreled into his backside, sending him stumbling forward. Luckily, she caught him before they could both go headfirst into the trifle, which was perched on a wobbly little table, but when he tried to turn, he cracked his head against the low ceiling.
“Ow! What the devil?” Rubbing his head, he turned to see the door was now closed. When he tried the handle, he wasn’t at all surprised to discover it was locked.
And a glance at Athena told him he’d get no help from her. She currently had her hand pressed against her lips to keep from laughing.
“It was Callan,” she whispered, her eyes sparkling. “I saw him pull the door shut.”
It was more likely Matthew had done the kicking, while Callan had locked them in, and Cash was surprised by the burst of pride at the realization the pair worked so well together. Still, he needed to teach these lads they couldn’t trick their parents this way.
Stepping up to the door, he placed his fists on his hips—the impressiveness of which was marred, he could admit, by the fact he had to hunch over—and bellowed, “Callan Oliphant, you open this door immediately!”
Silence from the other side of the door met his demand.
But then, to his surprise, she stepped up beside him. “Matthew Adolphus Roger Merritt! Yer father and I are verra disappointed, young man.”
Cash’s brows crept toward his hairline. When had she learned Matthew’s full name?
Although he could see the twinkle of amusement in her eyes, she’d made her voice sound stern. She knew exactly how to deal with their wayward offspring, and something swelled in Cash’s heart as he saw further evidence of how good a mother she was.
God help him, but she was magnificent.